French actresses who were born in 1904
Here are 7 famous actresses from France were born in 1904:
Lili Damita
Lili Damita (July 10, 1904 Blaye-March 21, 1994 Palm Beach) a.k.a. Liliane Marie Madeleine Carré, Liliane Marie-Madeleine Carré, Lily Damita, Lily Seslys, Lily Deslys, Damita del Rojo, Liliane Damita, Dynamita, Tiger Lil, Lili, Lili Curtiz or Lilian Marie Madeleine Kare was a French actor, dancer and model. Her child is called Sean Flynn.
Lili Damita was born in Blaye, Gironde, France, and began her career as a dancer in Paris. She later transitioned to acting and signed a contract with Warner Bros. in 1929. Her notable roles include the lead in the film "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" (1929) and a supporting role in "The Buccaneer" (1938).
In 1935, Lili Damita married the actor Errol Flynn, with whom she had a son, Sean Flynn. The couple's marriage was tumultuous and they divorced in 1942. Lili Damita continued to act in films and television shows throughout the 1940s and 1950s.
In addition to her work as an actress, Lili Damita was also a model and appeared in several widely circulated advertisements for products such as Lux soap and Lucky Strike cigarettes. She passed away on March 21, 1994, in Palm Beach, Florida, at the age of 89.
In addition to her work in film, Lili Damita was also known for her adventurous spirit. She was an accomplished aviator and even flew her own plane in Europe during the 1930s. During World War II, she worked as a nurse and ambulance driver in France. Her bravery was recognized when she was awarded the Croix de Guerre for her service.
Lili Damita also had a volatile personal life, which was heavily covered by the media at the time. In addition to her tumultuous marriage to Errol Flynn, she was also known for her brief but highly publicized affair with the boxer Jack Dempsey. Despite these scandals, she remained a popular public figure and continued to work in the entertainment industry until the 1960s.
Mireille Perrey
Mireille Perrey (February 3, 1904 Bordeaux-May 8, 1991 Fontainebleau) also known as Camille Mireille Perret or Camille-Mireille Perret was a French actor.
Mireille Perrey began her acting career in the 1920s, appearing in a number of French films of the time. She gained popularity for her roles in films such as Les Aventuriers du rail (1925) and Miss Helyett (1933). She continued to act in films throughout the 1940s and 1950s, and later in television shows during the 1960s and 1970s. In addition to her acting career, Perrey was also a talented singer, having recorded several songs during her lifetime. Despite having a successful career in the entertainment industry, she lived a relatively private life and little is known about her personal life outside of her work.
However, it is known that Mireille Perrey was married to fellow actor, Jean Debucourt, from 1946 until his death in 1958. Together they had a daughter named Françoise Debucourt, who also became an actor. Perrey was known for her glamorous style and sense of fashion, often appearing on screen in elegant and fashionable outfits. She was also known for her versatility as an actor, having played a wide range of roles throughout her career, from comedic to dramatic. Despite her success in the entertainment industry, Perrey never forgot her roots and remained proud of her hometown of Bordeaux throughout her life. She died in Fontainebleau in 1991 at the age of 87.
Renée Saint-Cyr
Renée Saint-Cyr (November 16, 1904 Beausoleil-July 11, 2004 Neuilly-sur-Seine) also known as Marie Louise Eugénie Vittore, Renée Saint Cyr, Renée St-Cyr or Marie-Louise Vittore was a French actor and film producer. She had one child, Georges Lautner.
Saint-Cyr began her career in the 1920s as a dancer, performing on the stages of Paris. She then transitioned into acting and made her film debut in 1928. Throughout her career, she appeared in over 80 films including "La Bête Humaine" (1938), "Les Visiteurs du Soir" (1942), and "Les Amants de Montparnasse" (1958). She also served as a producer on several films, including "Les Voyous" (1976) and "Attention les yeux!" (1976). Saint-Cyr lived to be 99 years old and passed away in 2004.
She was born in Beausoleil, Alpes-Maritimes, France and raised in Algeria. Saint-Cyr's career spanned several decades and she was known for her work in French cinema. In addition to her roles in film, she also appeared on stage and in television series. During World War II, she was a member of the French Resistance and was honored with several awards for her bravery. Saint-Cyr was also a philanthropist and supported various charities throughout her life. Despite retiring from acting in the 1980s, she remained a beloved figure in French cinema and her contributions to the industry were recognized with several awards, including the Legion of Honour.
Renée Dennsy
Renée Dennsy (December 26, 1904 Marseille-January 1, 1997 Gestel) also known as Renée Marie Louise Madeleine Desbaines was a French actor.
She began her acting career in the 1920s and appeared in over 80 films throughout her career. Some of her notable movies include "Bon Voyage, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, "Les Misérables" directed by Raymond Bernard, and "The Proud and the Beautiful" directed by Yves Allégret. Renée Dennsy was highly respected by her contemporaries in the French film industry and was known for her versatility as an actress. In addition to her work in film, Dennsy also appeared on stage and in television productions. She was awarded the Legion of Honour in recognition of her contribution to French culture.
Renée Dennsy was born to a family of artists. Her father was a renowned painter, and her mother was a singer. She initially showed an interest in music and was trained in piano and singing. However, she soon turned to acting and made her stage debut at the age of 18. In the early years of her career, Dennsy appeared mostly in theater productions and gained critical acclaim for her performances.
In 1927, Dennsy made her film debut in "La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc." She soon became a popular face on the French silver screen and worked with some of the most respected directors of her time. She appeared in many successful films throughout the 1930s and 1940s, including "Pepe le Moko" and "Remorques."
During World War II, Dennsy was involved in the French Resistance and helped Jewish and other persecuted French people escape from the Nazi regime. After the war, she continued her acting career and also worked as a vocal coach for young actors.
Aside from her work in film and theater, Dennsy was also an accomplished writer and published several books, including a memoir titled "De l'autre côté de la caméra" (On the Other Side of the Camera).
Renée Dennsy passed away on January 1, 1997, at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most talented actresses of her generation.
Jeanne Boitel
Jeanne Boitel (January 4, 1904 Paris-August 7, 1987 Paris) also known as Jeanne Marie Andrée Boitel was a French actor.
Boitel began her career in theatre in the 1920s and later transitioned to film in the 1930s. Throughout her career, she appeared in a number of films, including "Le Scandale" (1934), "Conflit" (1935), "Le Père tranquille" (1946), and "Les Quatre Cents Coups" (1959). She also acted in television programs and was active until the early 1970s. In addition to her acting career, Boitel was a member of the French Resistance during World War II, for which she was awarded the Resistance Medal. Boitel was married to fellow actor Jacques Varennes from 1934 until his death in 1964. She died in Paris in 1987 at the age of 83.
Boitel's acting career spanned several decades and was marked by her notable performances on both stage and screen. She started acting in theatre in the early 1920s and quickly gained recognition for her talent. One of her most notable stage performances was in Jean Giraudoux's "Sodome et Gomorrhe" (1922), which earned her critical acclaim.
Boitel's film career began in the 1930s, and she quickly established herself as a versatile actor, who could convincingly portray both dramatic and comedic roles. She starred in a number of successful French films, including "La Route heureuse" (1936), "Le Corsaire" (1939), and "Les Petites du quai aux fleurs" (1944).
During World War II, Boitel actively participated in the French Resistance and used her acting skills to secretly transmit information to the Allies. She was arrested by the Gestapo in 1943 and spent several months in prison before her release. In recognition of her bravery, she was awarded the Resistance Medal in 1946.
Boitel continued to act well into her 60s, appearing in popular television shows such as "Les Cinq Dernières Minutes" and "Les Enquêtes du commissaire Maigret." She retired from acting in the early 1970s.
In addition to her impressive acting career, Boitel was also known for her activism and political involvement. She was a founding member of the French actors' union, and was involved in several political campaigns including advocating for workers' rights and promoting gender equality.
Boitel's legacy as an actor and activist continues to be remembered and celebrated in France. In 2018, a theatre in Paris was renamed after her in recognition of her contributions to the arts.
Germaine Delbat
Germaine Delbat (March 26, 1904 Courbevoie-April 24, 1988 Paris) a.k.a. Germaine Marie Fuster was a French actor.
She began her acting career in the 1920s and went on to appear in over 150 films throughout her career. Delbat was known for her work in French cinema, particularly for her roles in films such as "Jour de Fête" (1949), "Le Plaisir" (1952), and "The 400 Blows" (1959). She was also a familiar face on French television, appearing in a number of popular series throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Delbat was married to fellow actor René Dary for many years, and the couple frequently appeared together on screen. She continued to act well into her 80s, with her final film appearance coming in 1986. Delbat was honored for her contributions to French cinema with the Legion of Honour in 1987.
Delbat grew up in a family of actors and performers, which greatly influenced her career choice. Her father, Eugène Fuster, was a theater actor, while her mother, Marie-Therese Bourgeois, was an opera singer. Delbat received formal training at the Paris Conservatory and started her career in the theater but soon transitioned to film and television.
In addition to her successful acting career, Delbat was also a painter and sculptor. She was a member of the Society of Independent Artists and exhibited her work in several galleries throughout France.
Despite her busy acting schedule, Delbat was also actively involved in political and social causes. She was a member of the French Resistance during World War II and later became involved in the women's rights movement.
Delbat passed away in 1988 at the age of 84 in Paris, leaving behind a rich legacy of work in French film and television.
Gilda de Abreu
Gilda de Abreu (September 23, 1904 Paris-June 4, 1979 Rio de Janeiro) was a French film director, actor, film producer and screenwriter.
She was known for being the first woman director to make a film in Brazil, with her movie "Bonequinha de Seda" (Silk Doll) in 1936. Before working in film, she was a successful stage actress in both Brazil and France. Abreu was also famous for being married to Brazilian composer and pianist, Lamartine Babo, and the couple worked together on several film projects. In addition to her contributions to film, Abreu was also an advocate for women's rights and was a member of the National Council of Women in Brazil. She continued to work in the film industry until her death in 1979.
Abreu was born into a family of artists and intellectuals in Paris, and spent most of her childhood in Brazil. She began her acting career at a young age and quickly gained recognition for her talent on stage. In the 1930s, she ventured into the world of cinema and quickly made a name for herself as a talented director and screenwriter.
Abreu's films were known for their strong female characters and themes of social justice, which was rare for the time. She continued to push boundaries throughout her career and was a role model for many women in Brazil.
Her most famous film, "Bonequinha de Seda," is considered a classic of Brazilian cinema and was a critical and commercial success. Despite facing many challenges as a female filmmaker in a male-dominated industry, Abreu continued to create groundbreaking work that inspired generations of filmmakers.
Today, Abreu is remembered as a pioneer in Brazilian cinema and an important figure in the fight for women's rights. Her legacy continues to inspire filmmakers and artists around the world.